River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-31
MADISON LETTER.
March 9th 1Ss1.


as legislatures 90, is no exception 10 the
rule Almost any scheme for depicting
the treasury may be made to 60 if only
properly handled by expert lobbyists
have been particularly impressed with
this fact in watching the course of he
raid Of the session, a bill to provide for
the publication of eleven thousand four
hundred sets Of the ancient geological
survey report, comprising four large oc-
tavo volumes, and series Of maps, the
whole costing sixteen dollars the set. At
the time this was published in 1916,
1t had some living interest to a few peo-
ple-students of geology, savants and
theorists. 1t never had much practical
value to anyone, as the great discoveries
of mineral in the Northern part of the
state were made in spite of the report,
and not through its instrumentality. But
now It Is asserted that it is the duty of
the state to invest an additional one hun
dred thousand dollars in a reprint of this
obsolete dOcument-fOr what The adj
yOcates Of the bill say to educate the
children ofthe state as To its great min
eral resources; to further the business in
terest of the state by disseminating
document which will enable any poor
but honest young man to omen ten-foot
hole in the ground, AVID issue thereon a
million dollars worth of stock wherewith
to beguile credu,ous fools into transfer
ofmoney from their own to another's
pocket, as Is al eady being done to the
extent of over I yo hundred millions in
this state alone.
The true animus Of the bill does not lie
IN either of these directions, however
Ii Is simply TO enhance the already enor-
nous gains of the state pTinteT-the
Democrat Printing Company, of Madison.
The bill originated with that company
and the paid lobbyists of that rich and
unsuitable concern have been for weeks
lmpresslng members with the great mer-
Its OF the Geological Report as an aduca-
ting factor, and with such cOnsunmate tact
and perseverance that they have con
WINGED the entire Committee on Educa-
ton that they would be recreant To their
trust did they not report favorably upon
the bill, and they have done so to man.
Ihlsls somewhat surprising, as the com
mittee, of whom Mr.. Bartholf, of Rock,
and Mr.. Murphy, of Pierce, are mem
bers, Is one Of the most leVel-headed
intelligent and honest committees of the
present legislature. 1t would hardly be
tar 10 charge that the possible prestige
10 be gained bv the distribution Oftwenty
or twenty-five sets of the report, has any
tklng 10 do with shaping the action of
members Of the committee, although this
Is an influence which is relied upon as
very strong in shaping legislation OF
course the Democrat Printing Company
does not care hOlr they are distributed If
only they are distributed, and two years
from now 1t viii again have its lobbyists
on the floor urging another edition as a
public necessity. BY this means il is
enabled TO declare dividends Of one hun
bred per cent. per annum upon its fif-
teen thousand dollars capital stock. 1t is
pity that legislators, to whom are in
trusted the peoples interests, should for
get the great mass Of taxpayers behind
them, and shape their action at the die
tatIOn of a few spectators who place
themselves so prominently and persis-
tently before them.
Iregret that in writing Of these things
which seem to call for criticism it should
have been necessary to include the name
of our member from Pierce, Mr.. Muir
ply has proved himself an able and pro-
gressive law-maker, watchful of the bills
coniided to his care, and successful in
carrying through his measures. He is
a good speaker, and upon occasion OK
presses himself with clearness and point
edness, being particularly happy in the
use of language, and being subject to few
er grammatical lapses than almost any
member l have heard speak, extempo-
raneOusly, in either house. Asa presiding
officer he Is prompt and efficient. In
short, he stands among the few first-rate
men on the floor. Ii Is highly Creditable
to Pierce county that it is, and has been
in the past, represented, with but few
exceptions, by men who were far ahead
of the average representatives in the state
Legislature.
There is a good deal Of by-play be-
tween the railroads and the legislature.
The railroads propose to make the Inter
State Commerce law the excuse for sever
/ al changes which will increase their in
come, and initiate their dividends What
ever tends in that direction they will
adopt,-in the intrest of law; whatever
| tends in the contrary direction, like faith
/ full and law-abiding citizens, yet thrifty,
withal, they will refer to their general
| solicitors to see if it is constitutional OF
! not before adopting it. One of the pro
| posed changes under the law, is the
| cancellation of all passes. This strikes
/ home TO the very bowels of the average
| Assemblyman, and he proposes to put
/ afar off the day when ne cannot ride Oh
/ an annual" He therefore introduces g
| bin making the fare on all railroads III
| this state two cents per mile. But the
| legislature doesn't hastily commit itsell
| TO this bill, not even in committee fit
| did their passes would be cancelled on
April LIST; on the contrary, if it is held
open. the railroads may be brought to SEE
that the Interstate law cannot interfere
in the internal affairs of the state. AND
50 the two interests stand to-day, like two
BOYS. each with chip upon his shoulder
daring the other to knock it OFT, but Meth
er caring to make the first move. The
prediction which | made a month agO
seems likely to be fulfilled, that the rail
roads will in the future, as in the past
use their discretion in the matter of pass
IS with the state Where it is for thei
interests As with the legislature, they vii
grant passes With the general public
who have hitherto been favored, TIA,
Interstate law will be quoted a
rendering their passes Illegal, and where
ever il suits the pleasure of the railroa,
i OlIlGtEct llAEl WAL It IdlAItAttl. ~
course passes covering two or more state
are illegal and must be called in or th'
companies issuing would be subject 4
prosecution. 1t viii be curious to not
how the legislature will CompOrt Itself
4 two-cent rate would inure to the pub
lie welfare, but the passage Of such
bill would be the signal for a recall O
the members passes. We will see which
! interest is paramount. / am betting IN,
bottom dollar on the pass.
Since the foregoing was written tn
Assembly has taken up Mr.. Taylor's bill
500 A. and passed it by a vote Of 40 to 3
nearly party vote, the Republicans gen
eralIy voting for and the Democrats an
Labor members against the proposition
license fee provided 10 be paid in sectio
1918, sill railroads shall furnish free trans
poFtaf!on TO all members Of the Legislature
state officers, and I.dges OF courts OF recon
/ of this stste during their term 90 oi-Ce. A
amendment provides thai railroad cOmpsnie
I shall NOT Issue passes 20 any other person
! upon the request Of any number Of the leg
: islature, state officers. or judges. The bi
was champiOned by Air Humphrey, of 81
/ Croix, and voted for by AIR Murphy,
. / Pierce, and many other Republicans
may have been a coincidence only, that tw
days previous TO the calling up OF the bi
the general passenger agents OF all the Wi:
/ consin railroads met in Milwaukee an
agreed upon this identical proposition, wor
. for woId The passage Of the act is highl
areIitahle 10 the uroEileuE Eh11 ~htfulups